Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[CoJ2]

I hope the penalty won't be that severe. Hope JB can still play in the Asia Cup

hope so, its his 2nd strike, but JB is flagged for usage of recreational drugs, SBP is expecting at least a 3 month ban. High time to use Ange (or fast track Boatwright)

 

[C2Hamm2]

hope so, its his 2nd strike, but JB is flagged for usage of recreational drugs, SBP is expecting at least a 3 month ban. High time to use Ange (or fast track Boatwright)

whatever happened to Boatwright? wasnt he injured thats why we dont read about him? how is he going? i am assuming his naturalization hasnt been moving because he isnt healthy, is that correct?

ive no doubt Ange will do his best and actually help us with interior D and rebounding, but he wont be able to replicate the offense that JB does nor the gravitational pull JB creates to give his teammates open looks at the basket. that said, will he fit the triangle?
as for JB, I hope he gets better and if there will be a ban, it would roughly be same time for him to recover from his injury.

 

[Sikatrix2]

Clarkson is another option if they want to spend. Ron Harper Jr is a cheaper option too if he is interested.

 

[CoJ2]

in a way, the suspension/ban is a blessing since JB is banged up and needs a long recovery time. Time to explore other options as NP, for starters put Blatche in a strict diet and cardio program, he's only a yr older than JB

 

[CoJ2]

whatever happened to Boatwright? wasnt he injured thats why we dont read about him? how is he going? i am assuming his naturalization hasnt been moving because he isnt healthy, is that correct?

ive no doubt Ange will do his best and actually help us with interior D and rebounding, but he wont be able to replicate the offense that JB does nor the gravitational pull JB creates to give his teammates open looks at the basket. that said, will he fit the triangle?
as for JB, I hope he gets better and if there will be a ban, it would roughly be same time for him to recover from his injury.

here's the most recent news on Boatwirght (Nov 2024

https://sports.inquirer.net/594339/bennie-boatwrights-naturalization-process-for-gilas-delayed

 

[Silent Killer2]

whatever happened to Boatwright? wasnt he injured thats why we dont read about him? how is he going? i am assuming his naturalization hasnt been moving because he isnt healthy, is that correct?

ive no doubt Ange will do his best and actually help us with interior D and rebounding, but he wont be able to replicate the offense that JB does nor the gravitational pull JB creates to give his teammates open looks at the basket. that said, will he fit the triangle?
as for JB, I hope he gets better and if there will be a ban, it would roughly be same time for him to recover from his injury.

not responding to emails..

 

[thatweirdguy2]

not responding to emails..

Emails? Why not ring him instead?

 

[Rds2]

hope so, its his 2nd strike, but JB is flagged for usage of recreational drugs, SBP is expecting at least a 3 month ban. High time to use Ange (or fast track Boatwright)

Even if it's recreational drug use he should get a more severe punishment for a second offense. I think Kouame it is.

I think this will severely effect TC's program. Let's admit it. JB was the system. Without him certain guys, I'm talking about Scottie, won't contribute much. The last finals was encouraging as Scottie finally initiated more offense, I doubt he will be good enough to warrant not getting other guards with better offensive credentials.

 

[CoJ2]

SBP’s response on the matter


The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is aware that Gilas Pilipinas player Justin Brownlee has received notice of an adverse analytical finding. Brownlee is currently dealing with the situation aided by his US-based lawyers.

The SBP wishes to clarify that FIBA has not issued any official ruling as of date.​

 

[thatweirdguy2]

SBP’s response on the matter


The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is aware that Gilas Pilipinas player Justin Brownlee has received notice of an adverse analytical finding. Brownlee is currently dealing with the situation aided by his US-based lawyers.

The SBP wishes to clarify that FIBA has not issued any official ruling as of date.​

"Adverse analytical finding" aka tested positive. We're f@cked

 

[C2Hamm2]

Even if it's recreational drug use he should get a more severe punishment for a second offense. I think Kouame it is.

I think this will severely effect TC's program. Let's admit it. JB was the system. Without him certain guys, I'm talking about Scottie, won't contribute much. The last finals was encouraging as Scottie finally initiated more offense, I doubt he will be good enough to warrant not getting other guards with better offensive credentials.

theres a lot of questions if you think about it without adding the fact that JB is a GIlas player. some example would be:

1) if the US allows these recreational drugs, what is Fiba's stand on it? and the context here is, if it is allowed in the US, but you are a naturalized Filipino (and this drug is not allowed in the Philippines) why are you using it knowing its illegal in your country (which legally is the Philippines)
2) Because JB is now a Filipino, will GAB add on to this?
3) How will politicians react to a naturalized Filipino using drugs? with election coming up, will they make it harder for athletes to get naturalization?
4) since CTC has taken over, JB has been Gilas' main offensive weapon. with Boatwright MIA and Ange not really an offensive player, how will the triangle maximise the immerging offense of KQuiam and Tamayo (we should have some sort of moniker for him even if we use it here in IBN)?
5) With Kai and JB out, what hole will CTC prioritise? Using Ange and letting the locals score? or get RHJ\Clarkson or even Mikey WIlliams as temp NP and let Japeth and Troy hold the fort inside?

 

[Silent Killer2]

theres a lot of questions if you think about it without adding the fact that JB is a GIlas player. some example would be:

1) if the US allows these recreational drugs, what is Fiba's stand on it? and the context here is, if it is allowed in the US, but you are a naturalized Filipino (and this drug is not allowed in the Philippines) why are you using it knowing its illegal in your country (which legally is the Philippines)
2) Because JB is now a Filipino, will GAB add on to this?
3) How will politicians react to a naturalized Filipino using drugs? with election coming up, will they make it harder for athletes to get naturalization?
4) since CTC has taken over, JB has been Gilas' main offensive weapon. with Boatwright MIA and Ange not really an offensive player, how will the triangle maximise the immerging offense of KQuiam and Tamayo (we should have some sort of moniker for him even if we use it here in IBN)?
5) With Kai and JB out, what hole will CTC prioritise? Using Ange and letting the locals score? or get RHJ\Clarkson or even Mikey WIlliams as temp NP and let Japeth and Troy hold the fort inside?

Question 4: get harper jr. As early as this yrs asia cup

 

[JAMSKIE2]

Question 4: get harper jr. As early as this yrs asia cup

Ron Harper, Jr. already has a Phi passport, right?

 

[allan_3732]

As of March 2025, there is no publicly available information confirming that Ron Harper Jr. possesses a Philippine passport. Born in the United States to a Filipina mother from Bataan, Philippines, and former NBA player Ron Harper Jr., he has expressed interest in representing the Philippine national basketball team. However, previous attempts to acquire a Philippine passport during his high school years were unsuccessful. Without this passport, he remains ineligible to play as a local for the national team under current FIBA eligibility rules. No updates have been reported since regarding his citizenship status.

​

 

[Silent Killer2]

Ron Harper, Jr. already has a Phi passport, right?

Yes..

 

[alfrancis2]

Yes..

Source?

 

[sroth38392]

Yes..

Question 5: Is Harper or Clarkson better suited to play for the team in August?

Feels like Harper Jr is best saved for the WC 2027.

 

[Silent Killer2]

Question 5: Is Harper or Clarkson better suited to play for the team in August?

Feels like Harper Jr is best saved for the WC 2027.

SBP should tap harper jr. By this yrs asia cup.. to establish chemistry with the team..

 

[C2Hamm2]

Question 5: Is Harper or Clarkson better suited to play for the team in August?

Feels like Harper Jr is best saved for the WC 2027.

with JC out, RHJ would be the option outside of Ange. thing is, RHJ is in a 2 way contract. Im not sure if he will be allowed to play in next summer league just to make a case to convert his deal to a better contract. insurance might be smaller as well compared to JC, which is a plus for Gilas. he will also be a direct swap to JB. so RHJ will need to adjust, but everyone else will just treat him same as how they treat JB on the court. hopefully SBP does reachout and make a deal to get him to play.

 

[IPC2]

OKC (league-best defense) has become Warriors 2.0. When Chet went down, they concocted a lineup beyond "Small Ball," they went Micro Ball (even going 6'5 and below lineup in spurts). Speed over size and horizontal rim protection instead of vertical rim protection. Protect the whole paint instead of the basket.

When the Lakers traded away AD, they also employed the same philosophy. It was best demonstrated when they held Jokic to 7 shots, he couldn't do anything in the paint.

I've said before that Gilas should have guys in the lineup who are versatile enough to employ the same tactic. It matches well against 5-out teams (shooters) and also serves as an insurance when our fragile bigs can't play.

We will also have to develop players with enough size and length to play as wings to implement OKC's lineup and tactic. Is a height range of 191cm (6'3")+ with a minimum wingspan range of 200cm (6'7")+ good enough or realistic enough in this context?

Yes and No I think. Yes, in that NBA level mediocre length is still extraordinary in Asia context and possibly decent in World level. However, Fiba is more rugged than the NBA. It has no defensive 3 seconds a smaller court and a shorter 3 point line. Fiba game is still bully ball. It's the reason that the so-called redeem team with Kobe, Lebron, Wade and co struggled to defeat Spain, with a much lower NBA talent level. I will say this. The post-Tim Duncan US teams, mistakenly thought that they could win just by bringing their best small forwards and small guards. The same way the NBA was turning. No mistake they won. But they bled to win those tourneys because of their lack of size. They thought they could win with prime Draymond Green as their primary defensive big. Good thing they had DeAndre Jordan in reserve who without they would not have won.

They learned their lesson. Next time they brought the slightly bigger but stronger Bam. But they knew that was not enough. In the last tourney they brought the best American big, AD and naturalized an MVP in Embid. It worked. But make no mistake if they don't bring decent good sized bigs in their next tourney, they will risk losing it.

Addendum:

This is also probably why JMF was instrumental in our most recent world level games despite being a low level defender. It is hard to win in the Fiba world level without some physicality. Kouame is somewhat decent in this but Edu I don't think so. Maybe Kai when he comes back.

The current identity and system of Gilas is predicated on size. Kai, JMF, Edu, etc importance isn't going away anytime soon.

I think what IPC is advocating for is the "ability" to field in a modern smallball/microball lineup when needed. If there are injured bigs or when were up against 5-out hot-shooting teams...we need to have 5 guys who can employ the OKC style defense (speed, wingspan, horizontal rim protection).

I've said before that our current identity (size, triangle, defense) matches up well with some world teams, but it won't match up well against some other teams. If we achieve the ability to do horizontal defense effectively, our chances of matching up better against more world-level teams goes up.

Yes, sir, exactly, thank you. It's an emergency lineup in case neither of Kai and AJ are on the floor and we don't have a paint protector as our NP. We need to develop those kinds of players that can employ the 2024-25 OKC defense.

if we have the personnel, players and coaching experience, i dont see why any GIlas fan wouldnt want it. but then again, if we can implement it without Kai or AJ, why not do it with them as well?

Good point, sir C2Hamm. Long, defensively able players paired with bigs who can protect the paint is a great combo on defense.​​​ We just have to find and develop players that are tall, mobile, and long enough to be like OKC's team of defensively versatile players.